Case ends season for Lueder-less Lancers
Brookfield Central coach Dan Wandrey hugs senior Lily Sandstrom as she leaves the game for the last time during the fourth period of the Lancers' sectional semifinal loss to Case. Photo By PETER ZUZGA
With about two minutes left to play and Racine Case well on its way to a 54-32 win at Brookfield Central in the WIAA Division 1 sectional semifinal game Friday, Lady Lancers coach Dan Wandrey called his final timeout of the season.
With five substitutes lined up at the scorers table, the starters went out on the court one final time, tears already starting to flow. When the horn sounded, the referees signaled in the Central subs and seniors Jesse Thomas, Maggie Mattiacci, Kate Sandstrom, Lindsay Wille and Brooke Duckett came out of the game.
As the Central crowd stood and cheered, each player hugged Wandrey as they left the court, finally forming a group hug without a dry eye in the huddle.
Although the Eagles ended Brookfield Central's dream of a third straight trip to Madison, this group put together a heck of a run.
The Lady Lancers won or shared three Greater Metro Conference championships and made two trips to the state tournament the past three seasons.
"I've been playing with these girls for all my life," senior captain Jesse Thomas, who led Central with 12 points, said. "It's really hard. It's like coming to the end of an era: three championships, two trips to state. This group has done some really good things for this program."
Case takes early lead
The Lady Lancers had their backs to the wall right from the start Friday, as star point guard Erin Lueder, Central's top player, was out due to being ill.
"We had our work cut out from the beginning," Wandrey said. "They are a good team, but it's tough. Then you take your heart and soul (Lueder) - whatever you want to call it - out of the lineup. It's tough. We couldn't handle the ball, we couldn't make baskets, couldn't guard their best player. Those were all things that she brings. But yeah, they're tough."
The Eagles (18-5) and Muskego (20-4) shared the Southeast Conference Championship, each finishing 12-2 having split their season series.
Case was led by 5-foot-10-inch junior guard, Samantha Logic, who, like Lueder, is a tall point guard who makes things happen. Logic scored 12 points and teamed with sophomore guard JaToya Woods, who added 10.
But Case also had two talented 5-10 forwards who Central couldn't handle in junior Asia Barry, who scored 12 points, and sophomore Jameeka Bouie, who added seven.
The Eagles jumped off to a 7-4 first-quarter advantage behind Samantha Logic's five points, while Thomas scored all four of Central's points.
Case then outscored Central, 12-6, in the second quarter to take a slim 19-10 halftime advantage.
"The way the first half went, we had them right where we wanted it," Wandrey said. "Except for the fact that we only had 10. We make a couple of free throws, make a couple of shots and it's a different game.
"I heard someone say as we walked off the first half, the game had no flow. I kind of chuckled and said, 'Perfect, that's what we need. That's how we play.' "
Agnello contributes
But the Eagles pulled away to a 34-18 lead going into the fourth quarter, and that was it for the Lady Lancers.
Thomas led Central with 12 points and junior Valerie Rose Agnello had nine points, but finished only 2-for-12 from the free-throw line.
"Obviously, we're nowhere without her on the court," Wandrey said of Agnello. "She's not a great free-throw shooter by any means, she hasn't shown that all year, but she's tough. She's out there spilling it all, leaving it on the floor. I'm sure she's tired, then you start missing a couple, it really gets to you."
After the game, an emotional Wandrey talked about the one Lancer who wasn't there.
"Obviously, if Erin is there, it's a different game. I don't want to say it's not fair, but it's just not the way it should be," he said, before choking up. "We had a good run with this team."
Central finished the year with an 18-7 record, and some players didn't want it to end.
"It stinks," Thomas said. "I don't want to take it (my uniform) off, really. Maybe I will sleep in it tonight."
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